Single-sheet separating and feeding mechanism.



J. 0. REIFSNYEDER & w. ALSAATM AN.

SINGLE SHEET SEPARATI'NG AND FEEDING MECHANISM. I

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, I9l5. 1,152,358. Patented Aug. 31,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.I. D. REIFSNYDER & W. A. SAATMAN.

SINGLE SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MECHANISM.

' APPLICATlON FILED MAY 6, ISIS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

/ VQ MQJMMWQ UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BEIFSNYDER AND WALTER A.

VANLAQASSIGNOBS TO STOKES & SMITH COMPANY, OF SUMMEBDALE,

SAATMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORIE'OIBMA'JPIOINv OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' SINi'GLE-SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MECHANISM;

To all whom it may camera.-

of any sheet; for example,

pack, controlled by Be it known that we, JAMES D. REIFSNY- nun and VVALTER A. SAATMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Single-Sheet Separating and Feeding Mechanism, of which the following .is a specification.

This invention relates tofeeding mechanism suchas used .for feeding a machine kind which operates upon a blank such machines as printing presses or gluing machines.

A principal object of the invention is to produce a simple mechanism which will operate to enable sheets to be taken one at a time from a pack, and operating so as to insure that not more than one sheet will be fediat "a. time. I

-A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for crowding a pack of sheets toward a separating device or segregating device, operating so that the pack advances automatically toward the separating device to compensate for the sheets that have been removed.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism by which the foremost sheet of the pack is presented to the separating device in such a way as to cooperate with the separating. device to facilitate the segregation or separation of the forward sheet from the pack and operating so that the remaining sheets of the pack tend to withdraw or recede from the posicome any tendency of the sheet or sheets nearest the foremost sheet from being separated from the pack simultaneously with the foremost sheet. I

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an oscillating device foroscillating the pack of sheets to facilitate the separation of the foremost sheet of the pack and to provide automatic means for periodically advancing the oscillating device toward the the condition of the the pack will be held intact and properly pressed or crowdedtoward the separating device.

' A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide for adjusting the feeding mechap'aek, to insure that Specification of Letters Patent.

i nism so as to properly present the foremost sheet of the pack and to maintain constantly a driving connection to the feeding mechanlsm in any of the adjusted positions thereof.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and simplicity of details to be described hereinafter, contribute to produce. an vetlicient feeding mechanism.

The preferredembodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention in pointed out in the appended-claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section partly broken away, illustrating one PENNSYL- Patented Aug. 31, 1915. Application filed Kay 6, 1915. Serial No. 26,282. I i v all of which embodiment of the invention and'representing the same as applied to a gluing machine.

' This view shows the normal condition or Fig. Fig. 1 showing certain parts broken away and phase of operation of the mechanism. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to illustrating the mechanism in another'phase of itsoperation. Fig. 3 is'a plan representing-the feeding mechanism as. removed from the gluing machine; certain parts are shown vin cross-section or broken away to further illustrate the mechanism shown in Fig.

Fig. 4 is an elevation representing the mech'.

anism as viewed from the outer side. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, illustrating a pneumatic separating or segregating device and showing how the feeding mechanism may cooperate with such a mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 10 represents a feeding mechanism which, by way of illustration, is represented as working in conjunction with a gluing machine 11. The gluing machine illustrated comprises a tank or reservoir 12 for the glue in which dips a wallower or glue roller-18 which conveys the glue to a distributer roller 14. On this distributer roller a plurality of glue applying rollers 15 roll, and Y one of these rollers such as the roller 15 is located at an exposed point so that it may lie adjacent to the upper end of a pack 16 of sheets 17 which are to be fed to the gluing machine. In the operation of the gluing machine, the peripheral surfaces of the roller ,15 become smeared with glue, and this such' as the roller 15 roller 15 performs the-function of a separating device or segregating device for takas their lower edges 19, so that the weight of the pack is not exerted on the. foremost sheet, and the pack is permitted to be freely movable at -its upper end so that it may be bodily raised or oscillated at the proper times over against the separating device The pack 16 is preferably supported on an inclined table 20 arranged so that it inclines upwardly toward the feeding point, that is, toward the,

separating device. From this arrangement, when thepack is oscillated forwardly to effeet the separation of the foremost sheet,

"the remainder of the sheets in the pack tend to recede or gravitate back from the foremost sheet, and do not exert any pressure upon it while it is being removed.

In order to crowd or push the sheets in the pack 16 toward the separating device 15,there is provided a pusher or follower 21 at the back or lower side of thepack, which preferably comprises a movable member or base 22 supported at the table,

and'an oscillating plate 23 which is preferably pivotally mounted .on the base at the point'24. There. is also provided amechanismjsuch as the mechanism illustrated at 25, the function of which is to constantly oscillate the plate 23, and this mechanism is controlled automatically by the condition of the sheets in the pack, in such a way that when the pack is not sufiiciently crowded, the mechanism will operate to move the pusher bodily toward the pack. In this way the pusher automatically compensates for the removal of the sheets and keeps all the sheets remaining in the pack properly pressed toward the feeding .point. This mechanism is preferablyactuated in. a very simple manner through the medium of a reciprocating bar or rack 26 which prefer-:

ably extends longitudinally of the table and which is constantly reciprocated when the machine is in operation. The mechanism 25 has substantially two phases in this operation, in one of which the base 22 remains stationary while the oscillating plate 23 is continuously oscillated or swung on' its pivot 24. In-the other phase the oscillator 1s shifted or moved bodily toward the se a- 5 erably provided a pawl '29 which is pivotrater. The mechanism 25 also prefera ly includes a gear wheel 27 which meshes with the teeth of the aforesaid rack 26 and this gear wheel is pivotally supported at 28 on the aforesaid base 22. I

In order to accomplish the constant oscillation of the pusher plate 23, there is prefally attached to a pawlcarrier 3,0 and said pawl carrier is connected by a link 31 with the plate. The faces of the'nose 29 of the pawl 29 are so inclined that it tends to throw itself out'of engagement with the teeth of thewheel 27, but in the normal operation of the mechanism, the pawl is held from disengaging itself by means of a small latch 32 which is pivotally mounted at 33 on the base and pressed toward the pawl by a spring 34.

If there are suflicient sheets in the. pack 16, the forwardrockingmovement of the plate will not be suflicient to permit the rear side .of the pawl 29 to become disengaged from the latch 32, and hence the plate 23 will continue to oscillate without change- However, when a sufficient number'of sheets have been removed, the pawl 29 will move far enough forward to pass out of engagement with the latch and disconnect itself from the gear wheel, assuming a position such as that illustrated in F i'g.- 2'. Then, on account of the pressure of the. pack 16 and the'weight of the plate 23, the pawl carrier and pawl will swin toward the left/In doing this, the end 0 the pawl strikes. a sh oulder 35 on the latch 32 and swings the latch outwardly so as to let the pawl pass the shoulder, whereupon the spring 34 brings back the latch to its normal position in which it looks the pawl. In this way, the pawl shifts itself automatically backward to take a new hold on the teeth of the gear wheel. In other words, this echanism operates in such a way that the position of the pawl is automatically shifted back on the gearwheel if the sheets in the pack permit excessive movement of the pusher plate. In addition to this, the mechanism'operates simultaneously to effect the automatic advance of the mit thepla-te 23 to swing sufliciently far in a forward direction, the tooth 27 of the gear wheel 27 which is in enlgagement with the inclined face 37 of the etent-pawlv 36, will push the pawl back against theresistance of its spring 38 and this tooth will then pass above the pawl so that the pawl will engage the under side of the tooth and prevent the gear wheel from rotating back. On account of the fact that the gear wheel rests on the rack, this holding of the gear Wheel against a returnmovement gives the gear wheel a relative rotation along the rack so that the gear wheel cree 3 along the rack whenever this shifting of t e pusher occurs. In orderto prevent any tendency of the base 22 to move back when advanced in this way,

there is preferably provided a ratchet rack 39 having inclined teeth with which 00-. operates a detent pawl 40 carried in the base and pressed toward the ratchet rack by a suitable spring 41.

In order to hold up the pusher plate 23 in'the absence of .a' pack 16 on the table, v

there is preferably provided-an adjustable stop' on the base which may be in the formv of a set screw 42 adapted to engage a lug 43 which projects from the pawl carrier or arm 30.

In the operation of this mechanism, it is understood that normally the forward motion of the gear wheel is not sufiicient to.

cause a complete depression of the .detent pawl 36, the normal operation consisting simply in that the tooth 27 which is in engagement with this pawl partially depresses it but withdraws before the tooth has moved far enough to pass the point of the pawl.

If the forward swinging movement of theplate 23 permitted by the pack is suflicient,

however, the tooth of the gear wheel will be caught and the wheel will not return in the backward movement of the rack but is locked against rotation by the pawl so that as the rack moves inwardly it pulls the base '22 up along the ratchet rack 39. At each forward movement of the pusher plate 23, the upper portion of the pack is oscillated over against 1 the separating device 15 and as the pusher plate 23 recedes, there is a recession by gravity of all the sheets in the pack except the foremost sheet which adheres to the separating device.

The rack 26 is preferably guided on the table by means ofpin and slot connections.

it engages the roller 51 at the end of thelever (see Fig. 4) and this rocks the lever so asto pull the rack inwardly on the table.

The spring returns the rack andthe lever to their normal position after the cam has passed. p

- Means are preferably provided for effecting a substantially vertical adjustment of the feed table 20. This is preferably-accomplished bymeans of an adjusting screw 52 (see Fig. 1), the lower portion of which is swiveled in a bearing 53 so that the screw passes'through a threaded sleeve or nut 54 attached to the table. By rotating the screw 52, evidently the table can be raised, as the table is guided 1n this vertical movement on tion of movement of the tableain adjusting. it 'in this manner is parallel witlxea shaft 56 which carriesitheaforesaid- 50. 'The cam is provided with-afeatl er or spline running in a longitudinal grofie 57- in. the shaft-so that thejcagn-can alo the shaft to any point but will be constant y mtated bythshaft. In order the cam with the table when tim table-is moved up with a grooved collar 58, the? groove of which is engaged by a plate 59 attached to an arm 60extending laterally from the table (see Fig. 4). lfdesired, thisepla te 59 may. be connectedby a loose v ivot 61. with the varm 60 so as to allow a s ightniovement at this point to compensate for any slight inaccuracy in alinement of the cam' shaft 56.

The camshaft 56 is preferably continuously driven by means of bevel gears 62 from a shaft 63.

The feeding mechanism may be used with anyjkind of separating device other than that illustrated in Fig. 1; for, example, it

'may-be used with a pneumatic separating or down, the cam is preferably. provided 7 device. For some reasons it is particularly useful inthis particular connection; for example, on account of the fact that in pneumatic devices there is a tendency for the sheet in a packadjacent to the foremost sheet to be drawn by the suction over against the foremost sheet and move awayfrom the pack with it when the foremost sheet is separated. With this mechanism the tendency of the pack to recede from the foremost sheet, however, operates to prevent any such faulty operation. Such a pneumatic separating or segregating device is illustrated in Fig.5. In this view, 64 represents a pneumatic roll'er or picker roller having a perfo'ration or perforations 65 through its wall,

the interior or chamber 66 within the roller being connected by a suitable hose 67 with a vacuum device which periodically produces a Ipartial vacuum in the roller. When the pac has been oscillated. over so as to bring the foremost sheet of the pack against the picker roller, the perforation 65 is on the side of the roller toward the pack and comes in contact with the edge of the foremost sheet. The operation of the vacuum device is timed so that at this momenta partial vacuum exists in the roller and the suction causes'the edge ofthe sheet to adhere to the roller; and this causes the roller to take the sheet from the pack. "After the perforation 65 has passed the presser roller 68 over the pneumatic roller, the vacuum is released and the rotation of the two rollers 64 and 68 then advances the sheet down a feed plate 69 from which the sheet may pass on into any suitable mechanism 'such as rinting press mechanism 70. p y

- 11 order, to guide the pack of sheets on one side, there is preferably provided a plate.

i of the It is understood that the embodiment of the invention set forth herein is only one of the many embodiments or forms the invention may take, and We do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention nor in our claims to the particular embodiment set forth. Furthermore, we may use any feature of our invention without the other features.

What we claim is: g, -1. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, means for'supporting a pack of sheets "with the adjacent edges on one side of the pack freely movable and without the weight ack being exerted on the foremost sheet, a movable member movable on "said supporting means, and means movably mounted thereupon for periodically moving the sheets in the pack at said adjacent edges toward the feeding point to present the foremost sheet and to cooperate in effecting the segregation of the foremost sheet, said last named means operating to permit-a recession of the remainder of the pack when the foremost sheet is being segregated.

2. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting a pack of sheets at an edge of the sheets, said means permitting a free movement of the sheets at the opposite edge, a movable member movable on said supporting means, and means movablymounted thereupon for periodically moving the free edges of the sheets of the pack forwardly to present the foremost sheet to a segregating device, said lastnamed means permitting the recession of the remalnder of the pack when the foremost sheet is being segregated, sa1d movable -member operating to clamp the sheets adjacent said supporting means. 5

3. In (a feeding mechanism, in combination, an inclined support for supporting a pack of sheets on edge, means engaging the pack on the lower side thereof for periodically moving the pack to present the upper sheet in the pack to a segregating device, said inclined support inclined upwardly toward the position of the segregating'device whereby the pack of sheets will gravitate away from the'foremost sheet when the same is taken by the segregating device.

4. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting and clamping a pack of sheets at an edge thereof,- means for oscillating the free edges of the sheets of the pack toward a segregating device, said supporting means inclining upwardly toward free movement of the sheets at their unsupported edges toward said segregating device, means for raising the free edges of the sheets of the pack to present the foremost sheet to said segregating device, said last named means being located lower than the pack to permit the'recession by gravity of the remainder of the pack from the foremost sheet when it is beingsegregated.

6. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a segregating device, means for supporting the pack of sheets at an edge of the sheets and so that the pack tends to gravitate .atthe free edges of sheets away from said segregating device, and means for raising the free edges of the sheets of the pack to present the foremost'sheet to said segregating device, said last'named means permitting the recession 'by gravity of the remainder of the pack. from the foremost sheet when being segregated.

7. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, an inclined support for a pack of sheets, a pusher for engaging the back of the pack to force the same upon the inclined the pack to the segregating device and to permit the pack to gravitate away from the foremost sheet in effecting the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, and automatic means for periodically moving the said pusher bodily toward the feeding point.

8. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting a pack of sheets, a pusher for engaging the back of the pack, including a base and an oscillator plate pivotally supported on the base, means for oscillating said pusher to move in the front of the pack toward the feeding point to cooperate in. effecting the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, and automatic means for periodically moving the said base toward the feeding point. 9. In a feeding,,mecha nism, in combination, an-inclined feed table for supporting the lower edges of a'plurality of sheets arranged in a pack with the sheets standing in a more or less upright position, a pusher for engaging-the lower side of the pack, means for oscillating said pusher to move the upper portion of the pack in one direction of movement of the pusher to bring the foremost sheet into position to be taken from the pack, and to permit the pack to gravitate away from the foremost sheet when the same is beingtaken from the pack, and automatic means for perlodicallymoving said edges-of a plurality of sheets arranged in a lpacklwviththe'sheets standing in a more or less upright position, a pusher for engaging the back of the pack, means for oscillating 1 said pusher to move the upper portion of the pack and bring the foremost sheet into position to be taken from thefpack, andauto-r matic means for periodically moving said pusher bodily toward the feeding point, controlledby the relation of the pusher.

. 11'. In afeeding mechanism, in combination, a pusher for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device comprislng an oscillating member, means for oscillating said oscillating member to .swing an edge of the pack toward the segregating device and-to cooperate with the segregating'device to efiect the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, and means controlled by an excessive oscillating movement of said oscillating memberfor automatically moving said pusher bodily inwardly to crowd the pack.

12. In a tion, a pusher for crowdinga packof sheets toward a segregating device comprising an oscillating member, means for oscillating said oscillating member to swing an edge of the pack toward the segregating device and to coiiperate with the segregating device to effect the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, means controlled by an excessive A oscillating movement of said oscillating,

member' for automatically moving said 40 and means for checking said pusher against 7 moving bodily rearwardly. 1

13. In a feeding mechanism, in-combination, a pusher for crowding a pack of sheets in an upward direction toward a segregating device, comprising an oscillating member, means for oscillating said oscillating memberto swing a portion ofthe pack toward the segregating device and to cooperate with the segregating device to effect the segrega:

tion of the foremost-sheet'ofthe pack, and means controlled by an excessive oscillating.

movement of said oscillatingfmember for automatically moving said pusher bodily inwardly to crowd the pack, a detent rack, and a pawl cooperating therewith to prevent a backward bodily movement of said pusher.

14. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets-toward a segregating device, said pusher comprising a base supported at the. table, and a pusher platesupported on said base, means for moving said pusher plate to swing a the amount of movement of said pusherplate for rocking said Wheel.

feeding mechanism, in combinapusher bodily inwardly to crowd thepack,

part of the pack toward the segregating device to cooperate with the segregating dev1ce to effect the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, and means controlled by permitted by the pack for automatically. moving said base toward the pack.

15. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a-feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding apack of sheets toward a' segregating device, said pusher c0m-. prising-a base supported at the table, and a pusher plate supported on. said base, means i for moving said pusher plate ,to swing a part of the packtoward the segregating dei vice to cooperate with the segregating de- 7 vice to efiect the segregation of the foremost sheet of the pack, said means including a wheel, a pawl engaging with said wheel and connected with said pusher plate, and means 16. a feeding mechanism, in combination, afeed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher C0111- prisl'ng a base supported at the table, and a pusherplate supported on said base, means formoving 'said pusher plate to swing a part of the pack toward the segregating device to cooperate with the segregating d6", 5 vice to effect the segregation of'the foremost sheet of the pack, said means including a' gear wheel, a'pawl engaging with said wheel and connected with said pusher plate,'and a reciprocating rack meshing with said gear wheel for rocking the same and for pulling said base toward said pack. 17. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding'a-pack of sheets to- 5 ward a segregating device, said pusher-comprising a base supported at the table and a pusher plate supported on said base, a bar movable-longitudinally of said table, and

mechanism actuated by said bar for oscil- 1 0' lating said pusher plate and for periodically moving said base toward the pack. 18. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table,- a pusher movable along said table for crowding apack of sheets to ward a segregating device, said pusher comprising a base supported at the table and a pusher plate supported on said base, a bar mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said table, a gear wheel rotatably mounted on said base, rocked by said bar and movable along said bar when said base moves toward the pack, and a connection from said gear wheel to said 'pusher plate for rocking said pusher plate constructed tq disconnect automatically when said pusher plate has an excessive oscillating movement.

' 19. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along saidtable for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher comprising a base supported at the table and a pusher plate supported on said base, a bar mounted to reci rocate longitudinally of said table, a gear wheel rotatably mounted on said base rocked by said bar and movable along said bar when said base moves toward the pack, a connection from said gear wheel to said pusher plate for rocking said pusher'plate'constructed to disconnect automatically when said pusher plate has an excessive oscillating movement, and means for periodically checking the rocking movement of said wheel in one direction to effect an ilpward movement of'said base toward the ac p 20. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher comprising a'base supported at the table and a pusher plate supported on said base, a gear wheel rotatably mounted on said base, a reciprocatingrack extending longitudinally of said table and meshing with said gear wheel to rock the same to and fro, a connection from said pusher plate to said gear wheel for oscillating 1 the pack and constructed so that the pack limits the movement of the pusher plate and also limits the rocking movement of said gear wheel in the forward direction, means on said base for checking'lthe' gear wheel against a backward 'movement after an excessive rocking move-- mentin the forward directlon and thereby causing said gear wheel to roll on said-rack toward the pack to advance the pusher base toward the pack.

21. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, afeed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device,:-said pusher compusher plate supported on said base,

prising a base supported at the table and a a gear wheel rotatably mounted on said base, are citprocating rack extending longitudinally 0 said table and meshing with said gear wheel to rock the same to and fro, a connection from said pusher plate to said gear wheel for oscillating the pack and constructed so that the pack limits the movement of the pusher plate and also limits the rocking movement of said gear wheel in v on said table. a p

22. In a feeding mechanism in combinathe forward direction, means on said base for checking the gear wheel against a backward movement after an excessive rocking movement in the forward direction and thereby causing said gear. wheel to roll on Said rack toward the pack to advance the pusher base toward the pack, and means for preventing a backward movement of said base tion, a feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher comprisinga base supported at the table and a pusher platesupported on said base, said table being inclined so that the pack tends to fall back upon saidpusher plate, a gear wheel mounted on said base, means for actuating said pusher plate by said gear wheel including a pawl engaging said gear wheel, said pawl operating to become disenga ed from said gear wheel upon an excessive irward oscillating movement of said pusher plate and permitting the pressure of the back along the gear wheel to rengage th same. p

23. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along pack on said pusher plate. to move said pawl said table for crowding a .pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher com-' prising a base supported at the table and a said pusher plate, the weight ofthe pack and said pusher plate. operating to move said pusher back and move said pawl back to engage the gear wheel at another point, said latch operating to efl'ect the reengagement of said pawl with said gear wheel.

24:. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along' said table for crowding a pack of sheets toward a segregating device, said pusher comions prising a base supported at the table and a pusher. plate supported on said base, a reciprocating rack movable longitudinally of said table, a gear wheel pivotally supported on said "base and meshing with said rack, a

pawl carried thereby engaging said gear I wheel,- said pawl carrier connected with said pusher plate to enable said gear wheel to impart a rocking movement tosaid pusher wheel and operating to prevent an plate, and a detent pawl engaging said gear ited backward rotation of said gear wheel and thereby causing said gear wheel to move upwardly on said rack and advance said pusher base toward the pack.,'

25. In afeedi'ng mechanism, in combination, a feed table, a pusher movable along said table for crowding a pack of sheets tol I ward a segregating device, said pusher comprising a base supported at the't able and a pusher plate supported on said base, a reciprocating rack movable longitudinally of said table, a gear wheel pivotally supported on said base and meshing with said rack, a

' pressed pawl carried thereby engaging said gear Wheel, said pawl carrier connected with said ited backward rotation of said gear wheel and thereby causing said gear wheel to move upwardly on said rack and advance-said pusher base toward the pack, and a spring latch cooperating with said first named pawl for normally holding the same in engagement with said gear wheel and permitting' the disengagement of said pawl upon an excessive forward rocking move ment of said pusher plate, said pusher plate operating to move back automatically and effect the reengagement of said pawl in cooperation with said latch at another point on said gear wheel.

26. In a feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table for supporting a pack of sheets, a pusher movable along said table for crowding the pack of sheets toward a segregating device, mechanism for oscillating said pusher, and for automatically moving said pusher bodily toward the pack periodically, manually operated means for adjusting the height of said table, and means for maintaining a driving connection to .said mechanism at the different adjusted positions of said table.

27. Ina feeding mechanism, in combination, a feed table for supporting a pack of sheets, a pusher movable along said table for crowding the pack of sheets toward a segregating device,-mechanism for oscillatng said pusher, and for automatically mov- 1ng said pusher bodily toward the pack periodically, manually operated means for ad usting the height of said table, a shaft extending substantially parallel to the direction of said adjustment of said table, and, means mounted to slide on said shaft for driving said mechanism in any adjustedposition said table may assume.-

28. In a sheet separating and feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting a pack of sheets on edge, andmeans for oscillating the pack to bring a portion of the face of the foremost sheet of the pack into contact with a separating device to withdraw a sheet at each successive oscillation of the pack. I

29. In a sheet separating and feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting a pack of sheets on edge, a member behind the pack, and means for rocking said member to oscillate the pack bodily to bring a portion of the face of the foremost sheet of the pack into contact with a sepa rating device to withdraw a sheet at each successive oscillation of the pack.

30. In a sheet separating and feeding mechanism, in combination, means for supporting a pack of sheets on edge, amember behind the pack, means for rocking said member to oscillatethe pack bodily to bring a portion of the face of the foremost sheet .of the pack into contact with a separating device to withdraw a'sheetat each successive oscillation of the pack, and means for moving said rocking member bodily toward the separating device to compensate for the sheets removed at the forward side of the pack.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscrib ing witnesses.

JAMES D. REIFSNYDER. WALTER A. SAATMAN."

Witnesses:

,ARL E. SCHAEFFER,

SILAS E. CHILD. 

